Spectacular Night Sky Photos for April 2014 (Stargazing Gallery)

Astrophotographer Daniel McVey sent a photo taken at Fremont Pass in Colorado which includes Mars, Spica, and bright constellation Corvus. Image submitted…Read More »

March 26, 2014. Mars shines as the brightest spot just above the mountains at center left. Spica lies lower to the right of Mars. The stars of Corvus shine above the foreground tree second from right. [See more photos.] Less «

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US Air Force Launches DMSP-19 Military Weather Satellite (Photos)

Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson

The 19th U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program payload launches into space atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Space Launch Complex-3 at 7:46…Read More »

How the Moon Evolved: A Photo Timeline

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

According to a new study, scientists think Earth's moon formed about 95 million years after the first solids condensed in the solar system. Read the Full…Read More »

Story: Moon's Age Revealed, and a Lunar Mystery May Be Solved. While there are competing theories, most scientists think that in those early days of the solar system Earth was impacted by a huge, Mars-sized body that spewed debris into orbit around the nascent planet. [See more photos.] Less «

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Inside Enceladus, Icy Moon of Saturn (Infographic)

Credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist

Saturn's moon Enceladus joins Earth, Saturn's moon Titan and Jupiter’s moon Europa in being a solar system body with liquid water on or below its surface.…Read More »

An ocean of water lies beneath Europa's 18 to 24 miles (30 to 40 kilometers) of icy crust. Near the moon's south pole, jets of water escape into space. [See the infographic.] Less «

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NASA Uses Mini Rocket Models to Test Mega-Rocket Parts (Video, Photo)

Credit: NASA/MSFC

NASA test-fired a scaled down version of the rocket engines that will power the agency's Space Launch System rocket. [See the video here.]

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Comet-Chasing European Spacecraft Spies Icy Target (Photos)

Credit: ESA

The European Space Agency's comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft opened its eyes in January after a 10-year voyage across the solar system and a long hibernation…Read More »

in deep space. For the first time since its wakeup call, Rosetta spied its destination. [Read the story.] Less «

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Get the Party Started

Credit: Koichi Wakata ‏(via Twitter as ‏@Astro_Wakata)

Astronaut Koichi Wakata tweeted this photo of the Expedition 39 Soyuz crew capsule approaching the International Space Station on March 27, 2014. The crew…Read More »

arrived two days late owing to a missed automated maneuvering burn. Wakata wrote: “Our new crewmates arrived on the ISS. Welcome aboard Alexander, Oleg, and Steve! pic.twitter.com/XCFeityMXd.” Wakata represents the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the Commander of Expedition 39. [Read the story.] Less «

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Fly Me to the Moon

Credit: Pál Váradi Nagy

Astrophotographer Pál Váradi Nagy sent in a photo of a plane crossing in front of the moon, taken March 22, 2014 from Kolozsvár, Romania, EU. He writes…Read More »